The study was carried out in Taquarendi (Bahia), a caatinga zone with a small irrigated strip of land, where Biomphalaria glabrata snails are found. From the 1,532 inhabitants, 1,105 (72.1%) were submitted to clinical examination and 1058 out of them (95.7%) made stool examinations. Prevalence of schistosomiasis was 73.1% and 16.2% of these patients eliminated more than 1,000 eggs per gram of stool. By clinical examination, the size and the consistency of the left liver lobe were increased in 54% of the individuals and the spleen was palpable in 21.8%. The diagnosis of hepatosplenomegaly and of the advanced hepatointestinal clinical form was made, respectively, in 9.8% and 3.7%. A direct relationship between such clinical forms of the disease and the worm load over 1.000 S. mansoni eggs/g of fezes was found.
Schistosomiasis; Hyperendemic area; Worm load
